Liberty Hospice is proud to serve as a source of hope and comfort for our patients and their families. Every day the Liberty Hospice team makes a difference in a variety of ways, including companion care, pet therapy, music therapy, our We Honor Veterans Programs, and grief counseling.

The Call to ServiceFor Fred Hopke, chair of the Liberty Lutheran Board of Directors, volunteering with Liberty Hospice was a natural transition from more than 30 years in parish ministry. Now retired from his congregational service, Fred brings the same compassionate care and ministerial spirit with him to serve as a companion to our patients, and as a source of comfort to their families.“Being a hospice volunteer is about walking with people through their life journey. It’s an opportunity to be attentive, to celebrate their lives, and to listen to stories of how they lived and what they’ve gone through,” Fred shares. “As hospice volunteers we are with patients through a peaceful process. We provide support, dignity, and care.”

You can help support Liberty Hospice in a variety of ways. Every day our volunteers provide companionship to older adults in communities across the Greater Philadelphia Area. With opportunities near you, now is the time to get involved. You can make a difference in the lives of our patients and their families by serving as a companion, or through music therapy, pet therapy, or our We Honor Veterans Program.

“What we do as volunteers isn’t magic, it’s simply giving of ourselves and our time. The principle of stewardship calls upon us to utilize our gifts for a greater good and to help one another. If there is a need in our community, we should seek to fulfill it,” Fred says. “There is a need for hospice volunteers. We add value to our patients and their families. Just as we are born into this world surrounded by others, we make it a mission to ensure that no one ends their journey alone, and that no one goes through the grieving process without support.”

Providing Comfort and Peace of MindWhen Karen Watts, a pet therapy volunteer, started working with Liberty Hospice she didn’t know what to expect. Her dog Finn had been trained through the Comfort Caring Canine Program, but this would be the first opportunity for Karen and Finn to work with those facing life-limiting illnesses.

Throughout his time with Karen’s family, Finn had always demonstrated an incredible amount of affection for those around him, now he would bring that same loving spirit to our patients. At first, Karen thought that Finn would be the one exclusively making an impact on someone’s life; little did she know that she too would be touched by the hospice experience.

“My time with Liberty Hospice has been very rewarding. The impact Finn makes is clear and can be seen in the faces of each patient every time we go visit,” Karen shares. “I’ve seen non-verbal patients become expressive when interacting with him. I’m touched to see him bring joy to others, helping them to open up and find moments of joy just based on his presence.”

Karen’s own experience with her parents’ passing is the driving force behind her involvement. Having lost both her mother and father to cancer, Karen saw a need for hospice programs but didn’t know where to turn.

“Both my mother and father were dog-lovers. Had I known that a program like Liberty Hospice existed, particularly the pet therapy program, I know we would have taken advantage of it and that it would have helped them tremendously,” Karen says. “What I’m doing as a volunteer is in their memory; and although Finn and I couldn’t do what we’re doing for my parents, I want to make sure others are provided with a level of compassionate care that provides peace of mind and comfort.”

As the nation remembers the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., here’s a special note from Luanne Fisher, Liberty Lutheran President and CEO:

The great Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”.

The Community Service Club at Liberty’s Paul’s Run senior living community admirably honors Dr. King’s vital call to action. “Our mission is to support ministries that provide food for those facing food insecurity,” says Julie Stumpf, Director of Spiritual Care.

The Community Service Club, which includes residents and staff, prepares 300-400 sandwiches each month for the Social Ministry of New Creation Lutheran Church. “The sandwiches are picked up by congregational members and taken to homeless individuals who live under bridges and along railroad tracks in the vicinity of North Philadelphia,” says Julie.

The monthly meal preparation continues as the Club prepares an additional 400 sandwiches for St. Francis Inn, a ministry that serves meals to some of the most vulnerable individuals and families in Philadelphia. Additionally, a group of Community Service members prepare 100 full-course dinners monthly for Jane Adamms Place, an emergency homeless shelter in Philadelphia for mothers and their children.

Julie says that it’s greatly rewarding for residents and staff to participate in efforts that help to strengthen and support vulnerable individuals and families. Moreover, both residents and staff members enjoy being part of a large community of caring people that encompasses not only Paul’s Run, but volunteers from St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, New Creation Lutheran Church, St Francis Inn, and a wide variety of generous food donors that include the Core Group, Whole Foods, Outback Steakhouse, Starbucks, and Weiss Markets.

The initiative at Paul’s Run to support people who cope with food insecurity has been steadily growing over the last few years. The preparation of about 100 meals each month has now grown to 600-900 meals monthly. It’s amazing to witness how this tremendous effort has taken root and awakens a strong sense of purpose and meaning for so many who are involved.

Thank you to Julie and the Community Service Club for the truly impactful and meaningful way you honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King’s Day of Service—on the actual day of this special observance, as well as many days throughout the year.

This past November, Bob and Beverly Bortz celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Married on November 18, 1967, they saw a golden opportunity to give back. The Bortzes chose to use their celebration as a fundraiser for Liberty Lutheran.

“When you need for nothing materially, it is best to give to others,” said Bob.” We didn’t need another bottle of wine or a gift certificate. We suggested that, if guests wished to recognize our milestone in a tangible way, they make a donation to Liberty Lutheran Services.”

To date their friends and family have generously donated over $5,300. “The outpouring of support is overwhelming,” said Beverly. “I am so grateful to our friends and family for making these gifts. It’s just a neat feeling and it makes you feel so good to do something like this for an organization that both of us are honored to be a part of.”

The couple’s bond with Liberty runs deep. Beverly has served on Liberty’s Board of Directors for over five years. Meanwhile Bob has been the chairman of the Artman Golf Outing for three years.

Bob credits Beverly with the clever idea to share in their good fortunes. Married on November 18, 1967, The Bortzes returned to the historic William Penn Inn exactly 50 years later to celebrate their love and commitment to each other. Through their charitableness, they also showed their commitment to Liberty Lutheran’s family of services.

Milestones of 1967:
Average Cost of new house $14,250.00.
Average Income per year $7,300.00.
Average Monthly Rent $125.00.
Gas per Gallon 33 cents.
The Beatles release Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Rolling Stone Magazine’s first issue was printed.

This past October, the First Youth Program at First Moravian Church in Easton, PA was host to their inaugural class for the Make It, Take It Kitchen program for kids. The six week course aims to teach kids about cooking, nutrition, and food safety. For most of the children in attendance, it was their first time in a professional kitchen, and their first time trying to cook.

Nancy Walters, founder of Make It, Take It Kitchen, was inspired to create the program when she learned that Easton’s West Ward was designated as a USDA food desert and low-income area. According to the American Nutrition Association, a food desert is defined as a part of the country vapid of fresh fruit, vegetables, and other healthful whole foods. This is largely due to a lack of grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and healthy food providers in the region. With this in mind, Nancy saw a need for a resource that could teach residents about nutrition.

“Food insecurity can lead to poor nutritional habits, which can lead to health problems as well as obesity, from relying upon too easily available processed or fast foods,” said Nancy. “I believe that if we support individuals and families in practicing cooking healthy, nutritious meals at home, we can impact the overall health in our community.”

Liberty’s Lutheran Congregational Services (LCS) was instrumental in securing key grants to make the Make It, Take It Kitchen program possible. “Building the initial connection between Make It, Take It Kitchen and the funders was a role LCS gladly accepted,” said Julia Menzo, Liberty’s director of community outreach. “Many organizations don’t realize what grants and funding are out there to help programs start and thrive. LCS connects the dots between like-minded organizations to make successful connections and spur growth.”

LCS staff and Nancy worked together to secure grants from First Presbyterian Church of Easton, Arndt’s Lutheran Church of Easton, and Cooking Matters, a national program that provides nutrition info and cooking classes for low income children teens and families helped the Make It, Take It Kitchen start off strong. “The grants are the route to our success because this was designed to be volunteer driven, with no paid staff,” said Nancy.

At graduation in November, the once kitchen-naive chefs showed off their new found skills by cooking for their families at a special ceremony. They also received a backpack with a booklet of all the recipes they made, plus the kitchen tools they used each week so they can keep cooking at home. “If you want to make a nutritious soup for your family but you don’t have a cutting board, a knife and a soup pot, then how do you continue to make that nutritious meal?” said Nancy.

“The program was designed to be replicated by other faith-based or service groups,” said Nancy. Make It, Take It Kitchen classes are not just for kids; three classes for adults were held in the past year at various locations in Easton. As the program builds, Nancy would like to expand the number of classes taught, and translate all materials to Spanish to reach a wider audience.

On November 21st, members of The Becoming Center donated 527 Christmas gifts for Operation Christmas Child, an effort managed by the international relief organization Samaritan’s Purse. The effort calls on volunteers to pack items in neatly wrapped shoeboxes, which are sent to children in crisis areas throughout the world. The Becoming Center’s more than 1,300 members include members of the public, and residents and staff of Artman, an Ambler senior community center.

“The holiday season provides an opportunity to reflect on how fortunate we are, and to give back. Our members and staff do a great job of coordinating everything, and our community is thrilled to be part of such a wonderful outreach program,” said Anthony Byers, director of The Becoming Center. “Operation Christmas Child brings joy to children who face extraordinary challenges on a daily basis, through no fault of their own. We are grateful to be able to help those who are less fortunate.”

In 2017, Operation Christmas Child hopes to collect enough shoebox gifts to reach another 12 million children in countries like Peru, the Philippines, Rwanda and Ukraine. Nearly 11.5 million shoebox gifts were collected worldwide in 2016, with more than 9.1 million collected in the U.S. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child, the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind, has collected and delivered more than 146 million shoebox gifts to children in more than 160 countries and territories.

“Simple gifts like these make such a difference in the lives of children in need. Beyond meeting basic needs, a shoebox gift can give a child hope, love and even perhaps the opportunity to attend school,” said Lucas Zellers, media relations coordinator for Samaritan’s Purse.

Learn more about the Becoming Center and see our list of both land and aquatic classes at BecomingCenter.org.

“Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nation’s compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and just plain loving one another.” – Erma Bombeck, American Humorist

They came together from sixteen different local congregations and organizations, yet they shared one vision – to help those affected by hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria and Nate. On Thursday night, fifty volunteers joined with Lutheran Disaster Response – Eastern PA (LDR-EPA) for a Cleanup Kit Rally at Christ Lutheran Church in Kulpsville, PA.

“It was exhilarating seeing so many people find a tangible way they could help,” said Julia Menzo, director of community outreach for LDR-EPA. Volunteers were asked to contribute supplies needed for the kits to their home congregation; the congregations then brought the supplies to the rally. “We accepted donations large and small. If you could only give your congregation one box of trash bags, or a few bottles of dish soap, every donation was accepted to become part of the larger collection and donation. People who didn’t think they could help were able to do so through this project.”

Supplies included in the cleanup kits are a 5-gallon round bucket, liquid laundry detergent, liquid household cleaner, dish soap, a clothesline, clothespins, sponges, trash bags, cleaning wipes, air freshener, gloves, scouring pads, insect repellent and more. Complete instructions can be found here. The cleanup kits are valued at $65 each and built following a list provided by the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). The kits will be distributed to UMCOR to areas still recovering from the recent hurricanes in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico.

Our heartfelt thanks to those who participated from:

Christ Lutheran Church of Harleysville

Christ Lutheran Church of Springtown

Grace Lutheran Church of Hatfield

Liberty Lutheran Services

Little Zion Lutheran Church of Telford

Montgomery County Department of Public Safety

John Evangelical Lutheran Church of Morrisville

John Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ridge Valley

John’s Lutheran Church of Folcraft

John’s Lutheran Church of Richlandtown

John’s Lutheran Church of Spinnerstown

John’s Lutheran Church of Sumneytown

The Confirmation class from Trinity Lutheran of Lansdale

The Kids Co-Op from Bethlehem

Thrivent Financial

LDR-EPA’s depth of experience in long-term recovery and wide network of disaster partners enables us to efficiently connect survivors with the appropriate resources, coordinate a corps of volunteers to assist with recovery, and provide congregations with the training and resources needed to best serve impacted communities.

If you would like further information on how you can help, or would like to make a donation to Lutheran Disaster Response – Eastern PA, please visit Libertylutheran.org/ldr.

The historic flooding caused by Hurricanes Harvey has impacted millions of people in Texas. Many of those families are served by Upbring, the local Lutheran Disaster Response affiliate for those in Louisiana and Texas.

As we in the northeast watch the devastation, our natural thoughts are to find ways we can help those in need. Please consider making a donation now to ELCA Hurricane Harvey Response or to Upbring. Recovery from a storm such as Hurricane Harvey will take years, and while federal funds and some organizations are in Texas now to help with recovery and relief efforts, organizations such as ELCA Hurricane Harvey Response or Upbring look to the long-term health and recovery of a region affected by disasters.

What you can do now for those in Texas:

Pray
Please pray for the people who have been affected and are in the path of Hurricane Harvey. May God’s healing presence give them peace and hope in their time of need.

Act Locally
To those interested in volunteering, consider these ideas, some perfect for God’s Work Our Hands Sunday September 10, 2017.
Hold a bake sale/yard sale/community fundraiser and send the funds raised to “US Hurricane Relief.”
Assemble cleanout kits for use by flood victims:UMCOR Cleaning KitUMCOR Hygiene KitUMCOR School KitDrop off locations in PennsylvaniaHost a work team training for your congregation. In the months and years ahead volunteers will be needed to rebuild homes destroyed by flooding in Houston and across the country.
Take stock of your congregation’s resources to support your own community in times of emergency. Build relationships with community partners and local emergency management so you can support your community in disaster.

The Community Service Club at Liberty’s Paul’s Run Senior Living Community recently made school kits for children affected by the hurricane. In this short video, they show you all the supplies you need to make a kit. Watch on YouTube here.

Lutheran Disaster Response-Eastern PA continues to collaborate with partner agencies to keep up to date on unfolding events related to Hurricane Harvey including: Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR), National and Pennsylvania VOADs (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster), Upbring (the local LDR affiliate in Texas), United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and County Departments of Emergency Services.

Liberty Lutheran Services has been awarded a 2017 Top Workplaces honor by Philly.com, ranking top ten in the category for large employers.

The Top Workplaces award is based on a comprehensive survey that asked the employees of each participating organization—there were 182 organizations in all—to evaluate how well their organization:

Aligns with its mission and upholds a culture that promotes collaboration and espouses strong values and ethics

Operates effectively and remains open to new ideas and different points of view

Appreciates, communicates to, and inspires employees

Successfully manages and genuinely cares about employees

Doug Claffey, who leads WorkplaceDynamics, the research firm that administered the survey, explained that the survey measures the strengths of an organization’s culture through the people who know it best. “To be a Top Workplace, organizations must meet our strict standards for organizational health. And who better to ask about work life than the people who live the culture every day—the employees,” he says.

“Time and time again, our research has proven that what’s most important to them is a strong belief in where the organization is headed, how it’s going to get there, and the feeling that everyone is in it together. Without this sense of connection, an organization doesn’t have a shot at being named a Top Workplace,” added Claffey.

Employees from every member of the Liberty family of services participated in the Top Workplaces 2017 survey. Not only did they answer survey questions, but many chose to write in their own comments when asked to describe why they love their job. Here are some of their remarks:

I love my job because:

I am able to improve and grow in my position and my knowledge base.

My boss shows me how to learn and grow, and encourages me to better myself. I work with an amazing team and could not ask for better people to work with.

I get to make a difference in people’s lives.

I feel like I am appreciated and valued.

Friendly staff. Caring managers. I believe I make a difference here.

My colleagues are fabulous and we get to interact with the individuals that we serve.

I am supported by management and my team members to perform at my best ability. I am given the resources to practice with integrity that best meets my patients’ needs and gives me a sense of pride.

It is a positive work environment where we strive to grow the business but understand the importance of enjoying your job. We work as a team and support each other in good and bad times so we all achieve success.

I make a difference in the lives of the residents and have an amazing nursing staff that I get to be a part of.

I can make a difference in the life of seniors.

I feel that I am supported and valued for the work that I do. Upper management does care about their employees even when difficult decisions need to be made. Much thought and care goes into the decision-making process.

It all started with a pair of sandals…West Philadelphia Senior Community Center Member Ruth Gaskins first heard of making ‘pillowcase dresses’ for orphaned girls living in Uganda through New Cannan Baptist Church in West Philadelphia.

After she made her first few dresses and had them shipped to Uganda, she received a special gift from the children. A simple pair of sandals.

Moved by the gesture, Ms. Gaskins decided to do more- she committed herself to deliver 100 dresses to the children. She brought the idea of having the WPSCC Quilting Class make the dresses to WPSCC program Manager Rose Richardson. Rose quickly agreed the class could help with the project and that Members could donate supplies if they wished. The Quilting Class wholeheartedly agreed to help with the project and got to work sewing different colorful patterns and designs.

On January 12, Ms. Gaskins and the Quilting Class delivered the completed dresses to New Cannan Baptist Church representatives who would handle the delivery to Uganda. (See video below)

On Valentine’s Day, Ms. Gaskins and Rose received pictures of the young children with their new dresses.

“Upon seeing the pictures, my eyes welled with tears,” said Rose. “Who would have thought that such a small gesture of kindness from our seniors would go so far. I am absolutely thrilled!”

To learn more about the West Philadelphia Senior Community Center, click here.

Artman senior living community has expanded its workforce—but this is not a typical group of new hires. Instead, the community is celebrating a newly trained cadre of canine companions.
Already a casual extension of the Artman workforce, the staff-owned dogs had been faithfully accompanying their owners to work each day when Executive Director, Janet Lorenzon, found a way to formalize their status so they could become bona fide staff members.
Janet arranged for therapy dog training and last spring several of the dogs earned their certification, as well as the designation of American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen.

Meet Our American Kennel Club Good Citizens

Lucy (nickname Lulu)
Breed: Welsh Corgi
Age: 7.5 years
Partner: Jenn Conway, Community Life Supervisor
Favorite Treat: Anything—but she loves peanut butter!
Work Schedule: One or two days each week.
Interesting Fact: Lucy was rescued from North Carolina.

Lucy Byrne
Breed: Peek-A-Pom – a cross between a Pomeranian and a Pekingese
Age: 12.5 years
Partner: Madeleine Byrne, Community Life Leader
Favorite Treat: Grain-Free Greenies
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8-4 and some weekends and holidays.
Interesting Fact: When Lucy accompanied Madeleine to college, she thoughtfully figured out how to work a small gumball machine and discovered that if she repeatedly hit the machine with her paws she could make the gumballs dislodge, then lick the color sugar coating off of them and leave the gum on the carpet!

Sophie
Breed: Cockapoo
Age: 9 years
Partner: Katelyn McKinley, Director of Community Life
Favorite Treat: Anything!
Work schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays
Interesting fact: Sophie can high five when she feels like it!